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Armor of Henry II, King of France (reigned 1547–59)

Designer Part of the decoration design by Jean Cousin the Elder French
Designer Part of the decoration design possibly by Baptiste Pellerin French
ca. 1555
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 374
This is one of the most elaborate and complete French parade armors, and it retains much of its original coloring. The surfaces are covered by dense foliate scrolls inhabited by human figures and a variety of fabulous creatures that derive from the Italian grotesque. The decoration includes, at the center of the breast, a Roman warrior receiving tribute of arms from two kneeling females and, on the shoulders, Apollo chasing the nymph Daphne (front) and Apollo with the slain monster Python (back). The crescent moon, one of the badges of Henry II (reigned 1547–59), appears in several places.

Twenty original design drawings for this armor survive. One is by Jean Cousin the Elder; the rest are by either Étienne Delaunne or Baptiste Pellerin. All three were distinguished Parisian artists of the mid-sixteenth century.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Armor of Henry II, King of France (reigned 1547–59)
  • Designer: Part of the decoration design by Jean Cousin the Elder (French, Souci (?) ca. 1490–ca. 1560 Paris (?))
  • Designer: Part of the decoration design possibly by Baptiste Pellerin (French, documented in Étampes 1542–75 Paris)
  • Date: ca. 1555
  • Geography: possibly Paris
  • Culture: French, possibly Paris
  • Medium: Steel, gold, silver, leather, textile
  • Dimensions: H. 74 in. (187.96 cm); Wt. 53 lb. 4 oz. (24.20 kg)
  • Classification: Armor for Man
  • Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1939
  • Object Number: 39.121a–n
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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